Understand

Introduction

Kalundborg is situated on western Zealand inside Kalundborg Fjord between the two peninsulas Røsnæs and Asnæs. The town has around 17,000 inhabitants.

You might come here for the medieval city remains, for the spectacular nature of Røsnæs or because Kalundborg could be on your way from Copenhagen via Samsø to Arhus.

History

Kalundborg was established in 1170 by Esbern Snare who built the West Castle (only ruins remain) just west of the medieval High Town. During the 13th century, the five-spired Church of Our Lady as well as the well as the medieval High Town were established. The town was important during the next couple of centuries as significant part of the Danish central administration was moved to here. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Down Town was established at the location of the present day major shopping and commercial street, Kordilgade.

Get in

By train

Kalundborg is the terminal station on the Western Zealand train line. The train from Copenhagen leaves approximately once an hour, is 1h30 to 1h50 and costs DKK120.

By boat

There are ferries from

Århus (4-6 times each day, fewer on Sa in low season; Travel time 2h40; Adults DKK175, children 4-15 DKK88; Booking +45 7010 1418 [1]) and from

By air

The nearest airport is in Copenhagen.

Get around

A few city buses run up to two times an hour. The city centre is manageable by foot.

See

The High Town

The High Town (Højbyen) was the fortified medieval town, which bounderies can still be recognised even though the wall is not there anymore. Some buildings dating back from the 16th century are still there. Most of the town's historical cites can be found here.

Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), Adelgade 19, ☎+45 5951 0401, [3]. Service every Su; classical concerts now and then. Five towered church build around 1220 by Esbern Snare's daughter, Ingeborg, and located in the centre of the medieval High Town of Kalundborg. This church is unique with its Greek cross outlay (symbolysing The Holy Jerusalem) with a tower in each end and a 41m tower in the middle. In 1827, the middle tower crashed and was rebuilt in 1871. Notice the famous alter tablet from 1650.Free.

Kalundborg Museum, Adelgade 23 (Next to Church of Our Lady), ☎+45 5951 2141, [4]. Jan-Apr, Sep-Nov: Sa, Su, public holidays 10am-4pm; week 7, 8, 42, December: daily 10am-4pm; May-Aug: daily 10am-5pm. City museum of historical and cultural development in and around Kalundborg from the oldest times till now. Localted in an old farm dating back to around 1600. Most famous exhibitions are local clothes exhibition and an exhibition of a wiking settlement excavation.Adult DKK30, Child below 18 free.

Castle and city wall remains, (Below the church to the north and west). During the 12th century, a castle and a wall protecting the castle were built west of the medieval High Town, but both the castle and the fortification were given up a couple of centuries later. During the reign of Valdemar Atterdag (1340-1375) the High Town was fortified and the walls stood until the middle of the 17th century. Some ruins of both can still be seen.Free.

Former Bishop's Home (Biskopbolig), 6-8 Adelgade (A bit east of the Church of Our Lady). Built in 1450-1480 by the bishop of Roskilde who lived there when visiting the town. From 1854, part of the building was used as town hall and the basement as prison. In 1971, the building was renovated and used for town coucil meetings.Not open to the public.

Former Minister's Home (Præstebolig), 23 Præstegade (Next to the Church of Our Lady). Build in the beginning of the 16th century and one the oldest remaining recidential buildings in northern Europe. Was converted to a hospital in 1854.Not open to the public.

Other

Kaalund Monestary (Kaalund Kloster). Originally a Franciscan monestary from 1239. The monks were kicked out in 1532. The present building is from 1751 and houses municipal administration.

Raklev Church (Raklev Kirke). Built in 1547 as one of the first village churces after the reformation. Built by the now converted monks kicked out of Kaalund Monestary a few years earlier.

Cafés

Café Bogart, Kordilgade 17 (In the middle of Kalundborg pedestrian street), ☎+45 5951 0057, [6]. Mo-Th 10am-10pm; Fr-Sa 10am-3am; Su closed. Café with seetings both in and out. Interiur built over the theme "Bogart". Live music and other arrangements in the evening now and then.Coffee DKK17-25; beer from DKK22; main courses from DKK74.